Automatic telephone switch



April 21, 1925.

H. Wl GOFF.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SWITCH 1F'iled July l2, 1922 'EJNFED HAROLD W'. GOFE, (EF-NEVI YORK, N. Y., AS

INCORPORATED, OFNE IGR-K, ll'.

SGNOR T0 "WESTERN ELECTRC COMPANY, Y., A CORFORATION OF NEIT YORK.

sin

AUTOMATC TELEPHONE STGH.

Application filed July 12, 192,2. Serial No. 574,387.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, l-Lnionn 1W. Gorr, a citizen oi' the United States, residing at New York, in the county oit ll ew York, State ot New ,'Yoik, have invented certain new and useful `lmprovements in Automatic rtelephone Switches, o'frwhich the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

jThis invention relates to improvements in switching mechanisms and has particular reference to a switch structure employed in automatic telephone exchange systems.

vln the type of switch mechanisms generally known in the telephone art as coordinate switches, a wiping engagement between two sets of contacts has been accomplished by the cooperation of incon'iing and routgoing line bars and link bars, certain ot the line bars being assigned to groups ot' incoming lines,each line having a set ot line contacts, and the link bars being individual to a set of link contacts which are operated to join an incoming'line in any particular group to an outgoing line or trunk. ln making .such a connection the active link contacts and transversely arranged sets ot active line contacts are moved relative to each other to bring them into engagement. Each ot the incoming line bars being associated with a pluralityot incoming lines7 participates inl the establishment ot coexisting connections between the lines ot the group to whichlthe line'bar is individual and idle outgoing lines or trunks. It is possible that successive opera-tions ot said incoming line bars, in vestablishing coexisting connections, may sometimes tend to disturb said connections by producing noises on theliness-andthat vibrations-of the switching mechanism, due tothe establishment Vof connections, may be Vimparted to engaged setsot contacts and 'thereby momentarily interrupt the connections therebetween.

fin object of the present invention is 'to prevent disturbancesV to existingconnections f established between cooperating sets of contacts where two active sets of contacts are brought into engagement with each other.

ln accordance with the above object, the engagement between two setsy ot cont-acts is etlccted by the operation of a member wl'iich is actuated by a latching element controlled by an operating bar and which, after being actuated to eiiiect engagement between said contacts, is unresponsive to subsequent operations of said latching element while said contacts are in enga-gement.

Another object is to provide a switch mechanism ot simple and-economicalV design which will be effective and reliable in operation.

The above-and other objects will appear more Aclearly'irom the following detailed description when taken -in connection with the accompanying rawing which illustrates some ot the mechanical expressions ofthe inventive idea.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a fragmentary 'front elevation oit a switch `structure partly broken away and shown in section. Fig 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional View through the switch structure shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. Q showing another embodiment of the invention with the partsy in normal position, and Fig. fl is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in operated position.

Referring to the drawing in detail and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the switch is shown as comprising a plurality et vertically disposed and longitudinally movable line bars l, s-ome of which may be assigned to groups of incomingsubscribers lines, while others may be assigned to outgoing lines ortrunks. Gnly three of the bars l are shown in Fig. l, but it will be understood that in actual practice a number of these bars will be used commensurate with traiiic requirements. Each of the line bars assigned to incoming subscribers lines serves a group ot such lines and after being engaged in the connection of one ot said lines to a trunk, mayV be again employed in the establishment ot connections torother lines inthe. group servedfby saidline bar. YEach et the incoming lines is represented by a set of active contacts comprising tour Flexible kwire conductors 2, butrit will be understood that the number/ot' these conductors may be varied in accordance with trailic conditions. rlhe conductors coinprising each vset of contacts 2 have their rear ends securely mounted in a vertically disposed insulating support Sandentend outwardly therefrom in a Vhorizontal plane at right angles'to the line bars l. To operate the line bars l a magnet el is associated with each otsaidbars and has its armature 5 arranged to engage a lug G at the lower end of the line bar so that when the magnet is energized, the armature thereof moves the line bar in a downward direction.

ltiranged in transverse or intersecting relation to the line bars 1 are a plurality oit horizontally disposed link bars 7 pivotally supported on the switch frame 8 by lugs 9 disposed adjacent each end oi each ot" said bars. Each ot the link` bars 7 is rotated by means of a magnet 10 preferably having its armature 11 forming a part ot" the link bar.

A grid element such as disclosed in my eopending application, Serie1 No. 550,617, tiled April 8, 1922, is secured to and extends .longitudinally oi' eaeh ot the link' bars 7 and comprises an elongated strip 19 oit insulated material having series of transverse slots 13 arranged in staggered rolation in the opposite longitudinal edges ot said strips. rthese slots are designed to receive four wire conductors 1st which are helically wound about id insulated strip and form set of active link contacts. The ot slots formed in the upper edge olf each insulating strip 12 are also designed to receive the sets of line contacts 2 associated with the link contaets 1st so that the sets et contacts, when moved relative to each other, will be engaged to establish a connection between an incoming line and an outgoing trunk. lVhen one ot the link bars 7 and its associated set of contacts 1st are employed in establishing a Connection, they cannot be again used in making another connection until the first one is released.

Transversely arranged above each set of line contacts 2 and engagingthe conductors thereof is a roller 15 which has depending' therefrom a substantially U-shaped linkhar-engaging member pr vided at its lower intermediate portion with. an angular-ly disposed flange 17 designed to be engaged by the rear longitudinal edge ot the associated link bar when the member 16 has been rocked in a primary movement and said link bar has been rotated by the energization o'l its magnet 10. 1n the uppermost portion oit AFig. 2, the member 1G is shown in its normal position; the lowermost portion of said ligure shows said member at the termination ot its primary movement; and in the middle portion ot the ligure the member shown at the termination of its secondary movement after being actuated by the associated link bar 7. lllhen the member 1G assumes these three positions in sequential order, the relative position ot the latehing member 1S in the slot 19 changes as 'tot lows: The end ot the latehing member in Contact with the notch 21 is approximately level with the other end engaged in the slot 19 and any downward movement of bar 1 will cause the said end in the 1' more downward, lut inasnmch as il'- erating movement of bar 1 is s; sulting movement oit the in the slot is also difference in the latohing member in the slot in Fig. 2 in passing from n' to the position at the term primary movement. 'Yilhen downward movement et a latcl is etleeiedt the bar 1 remains st" the said latching member mt. lowest end of the slot, the the latching member being- Ward trom the apex of the notch shown in the middle portion oit Fig.

In order to impart the primary rotary or rocking niorement to each member it' there is preferably proviti 4d a member consisting' et a siugie leu wire or other flexible material la'fis end extending rearwartlly andv mounted in a transversely disposed slot 1f) :toi-med in. the line bar 1.. The intermediate and other end portion of the latching member is bent to form rectangular iframe Q0. the upper side olE which normally engages in a no! lh 2l termed in the switch traine to provide a pivot for the latching member and limit -wie small and no Y relative ponti-fum lat'fhil the upward movement *thereof and oi the member 1G when the .'et ol. contacts :Ti stored to its normal position upon the dis rl"he lower throat-'ll ly: H1.

establishment oi a connection. side of the frame Q0 exto ded notches i'ormed in the 'vertical the member 16 adjacent the lower thereof so that when the .latehing me 18 is roeked about its pivot by the :ie tion oit the line bar 1 the pirtited member 1G will be given its primary movement lo position the flange 17 thereot in the path of movement oi the rear lor-init' ial edo'e ol the adjacent link bar lli/Then a call initiated on au incoming line in a group served by one ot the line bars 1, this bar and another line bar serving a' idle outgoing line or trunk are moved dowuwardly by their respective magnets fl to am tuate the latching members 1S connected to said bars so to position the members 16 in the path ot morement ot the link la; i' Following this operation one ol tie link bars is rotated about its pivot O by the enen gization oit its associated magnet l() s move the set o't' link contacts earl-led l lll@ liti

causes therollers 15 to engage thesets ot contacts 2 withthe set of link contacts 14. Due to the downward movement of the sets of contacts 2 and they substantially rotary movement of the contacts 14, it will be obvious that a wiping engagement between said sets ot contacts will be effected. Continued movement of the link bar 7 to a position shown in the. middle of Fig. 2 causes the two sets of contacts associated with the incoming and outgoing line bars to be flexed as shown and by exerting a constant pressure upon members 1G it will be apparent that the sets ot contacts 2 and 14E will be maintained in close. contacting relation.

After the connection has been established between the two sets o'l' contacts. the magnet et individual to the incoming line bar 1 is deenergized to permit of the restoration o'r the said bar-to its normal position so that the same may again be emploved in establishing coexisting connections for other lines in the group served thereby. Due to the sliding connection between the rear end of latching member18 and the line bar 1 produced by mounting the rear end oit the said latching member in the slot 19, it will be obvious that the succeeding operations ot the line bar will not aiiiect the operated latching member 1S ,and consequently the existing connection between the sets ot contacts 2 and 1-1 will be undisturbed when the line bar 1 is operated tomalte other connections.

i-it the termination .ot the connection, the link. bar' 7' is-restoredto normal by the release oLt the magnet 10, whereupon said link bar is disengaged from the member 16, and due to the flexed condition ot the set of contacts 2, these contacts are permitted to assume their normal positions with the upper side ot' the trame 20 of the latching member 18 again in engagement with the notch 21.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 4, the link bar engaging member 24 in this embodiment is shown as pivoted at 25 to an insulated block 26 in which the set ot line contacts 2 embedded, said contacts being also secured in their rear end to the vertical support The lower end ot the member 2% is provided with a triangular opening 27 therein designed to receive one extremity 28 oi 'the latching member 29 formed of a single length of wire which is bent at an interinodiate portion and at its other extremity about a supporting rod 30 which forms a pivot for the latching member. At 31 the latching member is bent to form an eye or opening tor receiving a pin 32 carried by the line bar 1 so that as said bar is actuated downwardly, in the same manner as described in connection with Fig. 2, the latching member 29 is moved about the rod 30 as a pivot. YWhen the member 24C is in its normal position the end 28 of the latching member is positioned in the lower extremity othe 4said contacts in close engagement.

opening 27, as shown in Fig. S, so that when the line bar 1 is actuated to move the rear ond of latching member 29 downwardly thc end 28 ot said latcliing member will engage the forward edge or the opening 2T and roel.; the member 2-1 'forwardly about its pivot 25 to substantially the position shown in Fig. a with the flange 3S ot member 2li in the path oit movement ot the link bai' 7, llhen this bar is operated in the manner previously described, the grid element carried thereby and including the insulated strip 12 having a set ot 4contacts 1st wound thereon, is moved relative to th set ot contacts 2 and at the same time the-rear longitudinal odge ot the bar 'i" is engaged with the iiange as shown in Fig. 11, .ioving the member 2- together with the. set ot contacts 2 toward the set ot contacts 1st until the same re engaged with each other. it this time the set or' contacts 2 is tiexed asshown in Fig. A1, and a constant pressure is exerted upon said contacts by lthe bar 'Z to maintain ritter the contacts have been engag line bar 1 is released as previously described and in restoring to its normal position moves the latching in nber 2S) to the full line position shown in Fie'. 4. Bue to the formation ot' the opening 2i in the member 2s?, it will be obvious that the movement ot the latchin-fy mei... 2S) to its normal position will be relative to said njien'iber 24 and therefore said member will be unailiected by the restoration of the latching member. Should the line bar 1 be again operated to establish a subsequent connection while the contacts 2 and ll are in engagement, the movement of line bar will cause the latching member 29 to assume the dotted line position as shown in F li. lt will again be apparent that this movement ot the latching member will not disturb the member 2-1 due to the 'formation of the opening 2T therein, and hence succeeding operations ot the line bar will have no effect upon existing connections.

At the termination of the connection the link bar 7 is restored to its normal position by the release ot its magnet 10 and upon discngaging the [lange 3S the member 2-1 is permitted to restore to its normal position at which time bloch 26 engages the rod SO. T he restoration ot linlr bar 7 and the member 2e separates the sets of contacts 2 and 111 whereupon the same may again be employed in establishing another connection.

What is claimed is:

1. ln a switching mechanism, sets o'l active contacts, a pivotal element associated with said sets ot contacts, a pair of operating bars, a latching member loosely connected to said pivotal element and to one ot said operating` bars, means ot operating said operating bar to move said pivotal member into operative relation with the other '1": said ed the incoming operating; harsn and other means operable to more the second oit said operating hars thereby el'lieeting an additional moven'ient in said pivotal member to interconnect said Contact sets.

Q. ln a switching mechanism, ,ets ot aetive contacts, a pivotal element, a pair of operating hars` an ohliqnely disposed slot in one et said hars. al lateliing member, one end of which engages said slot and the other end heini? loosely connected to said pivotal element, and means associated with one of said operating' hars operable to eil'eet a priman37 of said latehing` member to more .said pivotal elen'ien into operaliile relation with the other ot said operatino` hars, and other means associated With the other ot said operating hars operable to elleet a seconnary moiement in said latehinir member ther ahy establishing a Connection between said sets.

3. In a sivitehino' mechanism. sets ot -ietie contacts, a pair or operating' hars. a pivotal element assoeiated with said sets ol" mnilaets` a latehingr memher connected te said pivotal element, an insnlatin hloelt. a noteh in said insulating hloeli, the apex ot which notch is used as a pivot loi' said latehing' mernher during its primaryv movement. and means in said noteh tor perniittino the latehin;` mem4V her to slide theretrom the'i'elrv releasing the strain on said latehing member during its second n'iovement in completing)r the engage* ment of said Contact sets.

ln a switehing' mechanism, sets ot active contacts, a pivotal element associated with Said oli Contacts, a flange tixedly attached to said pivotal element, operating` hars, a latehinej member, means associated `with one ot said operating hars operable to more said latehing` member which in turn rotates said pivotal elen'ient into an operative positiom and other means operable to more the other ot said operating' lars into en gragement With said flange to lning' hoth Contact sets into engagement.

ln a switching' mechanism. a fraaie a set ot active Wire spring;v Contacts arranged in a horizontal plane, a set ot active helicalA ljv Wound conductors arranged in a Yerti 'al plane, a sliding' operatingl har. a rocking operating` har, a latehing member, a pivotal element. a flange ixetlly attached to said piif'otal element, another flange tixedly attaehed to said rocking operating' har. means operahle to slide first n'ientioned operating' har therein"v moving' said latchingg member to position the said lirst mentioned flange ,in operative relation with said second inen tioned tlv-.neei and n'ieans onerahle to rock the second ot said operating; hars thereby movin;` the said set ot Conductors into an opera.- tire position and also movingv the attached lann'e into engagement with the lange on said pivotal menil'ier which engagement tlexes the sai-d set ot Wire spring' eontaets into a` wiping' Connection with the said set ot. eonf'lnetors.

ln Witness Whereo'li, l hereunto snl'iserihe my name this 10th day ot Julyv A. D.. 1922.

HAROLD lV. GOFF. 

